Nharhu Male Lions

[Timbavati]

Hello hello, and a big welcome back to our weekly wildlife update from the heart of the Timbavati.I am back at Tanda Tula Safari Campafter a couple of weeks break, and it was such a wonderous treat to drive back into the reserve and see all the knobthorn and long-tailed cassia trees in full bloom!  Following on from weeks of me saying that it would happen (and beginning to think that the knobthorns might skip their flowering season just as they did last year), I suddenly remembered just why I was going on about it so much. it truly is a special time of year in the central Kruger’s acacia woodlands.

Despite being back at camp, I was not out on regular drives. As a result, I didn’t get to catch up with all the sightings that were around, but I was fortunate enough to be able to get to see the ones that counted the most!  Luke reported that the River Pride had been AWOL last week, and as this week started, the pattern didn’t appear as though it would be broken.  Distant roars of the Nharhu males could be heard out in the far east,  way beyond our concession, and we started to ponder if the pride would ever come back.  As the days ticked by with no sign of them, we grew increasingly despondent, but as nature usually shows, we had no reason to worry.  Following their surprise arrival on the complete opposite side of the Timbavati, the River Pride returned to our concession and were found resting full-bellied in the Zebenine Riverbed. These bulging stomachs were not enough to stop the pride from successfully hunting an adult female giraffe later that evening, and we found them feeding on the carcass the next morning.  This large kill anchored them to the south-western corner of the concession for several days as they fed and rested as the gathering scavengers sat waiting very patiently for their turn.  It was great for us, as not only did it mean that we had guaranteed lions for a few days, but more importantly it put a temporary pause on the pride’s wanderings!
Photo credits to and Information to: Chad Cocking
Tanda Tula Safari Camp-Timbavati,Posted: 18.09.2020

*This image is copyright of its original author

*This image is copyright of its original author

*This image is copyright of its original author

*This image is copyright of its original author

*This image is copyright of its original author

*This image is copyright of its original author

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